Clermont

History

Gangalu (Gangulu, Kangulu, Kanolu, Kaangooloo, Khangulu) is an Australian Aboriginal language spoken on Gangula country. The Gangula language region includes the towns of Clermont and Springsure, extending south towards the Dawson River. Ludwig Leichhardt was the first European to pass through the Clermont area in 1845, but it was the discovery of gold in 1861 that was responsible for the establishment of the town, close to what was Babbinburra clan land. The town reserve was proclaimed on 25 March 1864, although a gold field was declared in the area in 1862. Clermont is named after Clermont-Ferrand in France; Clermont-Ferrand was the ancestral home of Oscar de Satge, one of the first European graziers who owned the Wolfang Downs pastoral run. Theresa Creek Post Office opened by 1863, was replaced by Coppermines Post Office at the end of 1863 and Clermont Post Office in 1864. In the 1860s and 1870s the area around Clermont was known as "the Peak Downs". The first newspaper, the Peak Downs Telegram and Mining Record, was established in August 1864, and the first issue was dated Tuesday, 4 October. The first church in Clermont was a Catholic church opened on Sunday 4 November 1866 and dedicated to St Mary, Blessed Virgin of Sorrows. Clermont State School opened on 27 August 1867. A Congregational church opened in North Copperfield in November 1868. The Presbyterian Church in Clermont opened in 1878. It was formally re-opened on Sunday 10 June 1883. Copper was discovered soon after. In the 1880s up to 4000 Chinese people were resident in Clermont, mining for gold and copper. This led to racial riots and the Chinese were removed from the region in 1888. The decorated soldier Billy Sing was born in Clermont in 1886 of a Chinese father and English mother. The…

Geography

Clermont is south-west of Mackay, at the junction of the Gregory and Peak Downs highways. The historic towns of North Copperfield () and South Copperfield (), often referred to collectively as Copperfield are along Christoe Street approximately south-west of the Clermont town centre. The Gregory Highway runs through the eastern end, and the Peak Downs Highway enters from the east. The Clermont Connection Road links the Gregory Highway to the CBD, and the Clermont-Alpha Road starts in the CBD and exits to the south-west.

Most-observed species

• Crested Pigeon

  Ocyphaps lophotes (Temminck, 1822) · Aves
  282
• Magpie-lark

  Grallina cyanoleuca (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  272
• Torresian Crow

  Corvus orru Bonaparte, 1850 · Aves
  232
• Rainbow Lorikeet

  Trichoglossus haematodus (Linnaeus, 1771) · Aves
  217
• Australian Magpie

  Gymnorhina tibicen (Latham, 1802) · Aves
  212
• Galah

  Eolophus roseicapilla (Vieillot, 1817) · Aves
  199
• Yellow-throated Miner

  Manorina flavigula (Gould, 1840) · Aves
  195
• Apostlebird

  Struthidea cinerea Gould, 1837 · Aves
  195